Ronnie H. Davis

AS WE start into 2012, it seems as if the printing industry, the country as a whole and even the global economy have been cast in a sequel to the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day. The first draft of the script for the year ahead reads much like it did for the past two years.

PITTSBURGH—Feb. 25, 2008—PIA/GATFPress is pleased to offer the latest Economics and Market Research Reports—Looking Forward: What’s Next for the Economy and Print Markets in 2008–2009 and Expanding the Print Market Space: Printers’ Diversification into Ancillary Services by Ronnie H. Davis, Ph.D. and Ed Gleeson—to help printers as they face an uncertain economic future. As fears of a recession in the United States loom larger and larger, it is becoming increasingly important for print and graphic communications firms to know what to expect and how best to protect their bottom lines in the coming months. “The Looking Forward report provides a comprehensive analysis

Last month I ventured down to Alexandria, Va., to attend the Print Outlook 05 conference, sponsored by NPES, the Association for Suppliers of Printing, Publishing and Converting Technologies. While the sessions were tailored to commercial printers, I did glean some interesting facts and ideas. The overall message was that print is facing competition, and printers have to try new tactics and move into new areas to survive. Keynote speaker Joe Cappo, recently retired from Crain Communications, pointed out a decline in magazine and newspaper readership, and suggested that the media that survives will be the one that can integrate with other

Paper companies have announced price hikes for most grades, with more on the way. We all knew the buyers' market wouldn't last forever. By Mark Smith THE END had to come sooner or later. Everyone knew the buyer's market for printing stocks simply couldn't last forever. Eventually, the adjustments made in papermaking capacity by suppliers and increasing demand fueled by the economic recovery had to bring price increases that would stick. Paper companies have announced or already implemented price hikes for most grades, and another round of increases may be in the offing before the end of the year. There's little reason to hope